Game of the Year 2019 Results

The B&B GOTY 2019 is:

Sekiro (29)



Sekiro! The game where the creators of Dark Souls and Bloodborne finally became a parody of themselves. Sweep through entire chunks of old Japan in minutes, cutting down enemies with skill and grace. Then spend two hours getting pounded into dust by a giant ape. Carefully observe the custom of offering someone outside for a fight, lest you get fucked by the camera getting stuck in a wall. Scour every hidden nook and cranny for items you’ll immediately forget to use.

Or, enjoy some of the most clinical, satisfying sword combat you’re ever likely to find in a game. Explore some stunning environments. Run around the roof tops like a proper ninja. Finally kill that fucking ape and punch the air. Oh wait, he’s not really dead. Time to learn another phase. Joke’s on you, loser.

What you said:

hylian_elf: “An epic game full of wonderful combat and fights, amazing bosses, great audiovisuals that help create a convincing setting and characters and story. Some slight issues with camera in tight spaces and a couple of the bosses can seem tough and frustrating until you realise that it’s you who is shit and you figure it out, but otherwise faultless. [10]”

Djornson: “It's great but i dont love it like i love souls/bloodborne. Still, #4 ain't bad.”

Tempy: “It's the samurai fantasy game I wanted. From goes faster than Bloorborne, and far leaner. Combat is a dream, parrying is as satisfying if not more so than it is in Revengeance. Stick enough time into it and it becomes second nature, and you get to cut through wonderfully rendered folklore monsters in a hazy, dreamlike rendition of Japan on the cusp of upheaval.”

In joint 2nd place:
 
Control (18)



Control, a game that gives you the power to control things. Which all games do, but not usually quite as much. It’s more like Control+ or Control Extra. Basically you can move objects with the power of your mind and then do really interesting things with them, like throw them at people’s heads. Mostly just that, actually. But everything’s also really weird – floating people speaking gibberish, twisty corridors, an evil narcissistic fridge, a single-digit frame rate. That sort of thing. Spooky.

What you said:

trippy: “I've dragged myself through a fair few big name games in the last year or so (hello Days Gone) and this is like a breath of fresh air in comparison. It's atmospherically unique with some great touches and also a really satisfying shooter. 

There are some difficulty spikes but the art design is brilliant and the way it plays with scale, symmetry and shape is something too few games experiment with. It's pleasantly surreal and genuinely funny at points, and the pacing is great, with stretches of calm between battles. And it's beautiful, too.

Like Noita, the physics are a generation ahead of most games and mesmerising. You can grab and throw the world at any point, and it's incredibly freeing. I'm not a massive fan of shooters but once Control clicks you have the freedom to pull off some impressive moves, instinctively taking to the sky to hurl a filling cabinet at a goon. It's all very empowering, and surveying the wreckage afterwards is extremely satisfying.  I suspect I'll be firing it up for months to come, just to break some chairs.”

MattyJ: “Really great game all round. The overall unsettling weirdness of what's going on in the building, coupled with it just looking like a standard office space (for the most part) is excellent. The writing, in particular the documents, videos etc you find around the place, is well done and manages to mix the mundane with the weird.

The controls, graphics and sound are all top notch. The drip of powers you get mean you genuinely powerful as time goes on, wreaking havoc, destroying the place as you go.

My only criticism is the ending, which kind of fizzled out for me rather than being particularly satisfying, but it didn't detract from the rest.”

stormyskiesahead: “Was debating putting this on here tbh, but I'm sure the issues I was having throughout my broken-up playthrough were my issues, not the game's. When I was feeling it, damn, it felt (and looked) good.”

Tempy: “House of Leaves comes to life as a Sam Lake shooter with a heavy dose of SCP and a light smattering of Twin Peaks. Physics flexing combat and inspired minimalist environments come together to make something that feels as familiar as it is unique. Only issue is it doesn't last quite as long as it could.”

Untitled Goose Game (18)



The name’s a bit misleading, in that it actually does have a title (it's ironic, see?). Also, it’s not much of a game. It does have a goose in it though, unless that’s just a large duck, but we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. Whatever. It’s that thing that taught us what we already knew – that being a complete dickhead is fun, if you can get away with it, and if no one gets hurt except some stupid rural English stereotypes. They probably all voted for Brexit anyway. The pricks.

What you said:

Djornson: “The first time the kids watched me play a game, understood exactly what was happening AND were happy to watch and encourage and laugh along without whining for a go themselves. I loved how my motive wasn't clear but i embraced being a pain in the ass goose. Perhaps geese are that much of a pain in the ass it does sometimes seem like they have some higher calling.”

trippy: “It's a wee bit shonky but it deserves to be here purely for the way it makes my children laugh. And the amazing ending. HONK.”


In joint 4th place:

Apex Legends (16)



Yes, it’s Apex Legends, which from most of the screen shots I’ve just looked at appears to be a game about people posing in colourful outfits. Probably with attitude. I think there’s some shooting involved as well. A bit like Overwatch or Fortnite or something like that. People like those too, I hear. Fortunately, some of you lot wrote about it:

What you said:

Djornson: “Got me back into Multiplayer for a while, really great stuff.”

regmcfly: “Dung-Dung-Dung-Duuunngg - that four chord landing theme has been my go-to-melody this year. Apex feels perfect. The mechanics of moving around, of sliding, of reloading, and generally working your way around the terrain are all remarkable, and speak to a team with considerable experience in dealing with first person mechanics. The squad options (although all you need is Pathfinder) are deep and varied, and Respawn even managed to expand upon these with their season 2 character launches. The game does not feel absolutely bogged down in the 'you must buy' mechanics that other games have, and every game feels 'fair'. It's my fault when I disengage from my team, it's their fault when they don't spot the shotgunner behind the door. It's a frankly incredibly distillation of the Battle Royale format, and to be given it for 'free' is even more ludicrous. I can't want to see where it goes next - Tomorrow is in their hands (I'm SORRY).”

MattyJ: “Talk about making your mark in competitive gaming. Came out of nowhere and changed everything. The ping system is phenomena, making it genuinely possible for me to play with strangers and not feel like I need to talk to succeed. Had several victories with strangers and they felt great.

Updated throughout as well with good community engagement. Can't help but feel many games will be trying to emulate this for years (fortnite already added ping).”

stormyskiesahead: “Apex Legends - 500+ hours sunk on this so far and I'd be very surprised if I don't sink another 500 this year. Apex fixed so many of the issues I had with BR in general, and a good few others I didn't realise I had 'til they pointed 'em out. The quirky cast are fantastic and their unique abilities are almost perfectly balanced with the gunplay. Speaking of which, that gunplay is sublime, as is the movement. My only real issue is that I don't much care for the current map, but that's not because it's bad or anything, it just doesn't suit my playstyle. Anyhoo, Apex is my favourite BR by far, and the most fun I've had with a new game this year. Just bring back King's Canyon for good, okay Respawn?”

Resident Evil 2 (16)



Ah, this is more like it. A tarted up old game that we all know and love, because let’s face it, people would rather have that than an actual new game with new ideas. Yes, Capcom, we would. Well, at least if you’re going to do this good a job of it.

What we said:

regmcfly: “Right at the time when we were in the worst of the above January stuff with regards to babies, one Sunday morning, I got a message from Elm that I had been gifted a copy of Resident Evil 2 on XBox. Being in a naturally fragile state I burst into tears and was obviously ridiculously grateful. January became a time when I retreated into the past, playing games that instilled nostalgia and reminded me of positive memories. Resident Evil 2 felt like the Bridge (Baby) for this (yes, I can't stop thinking about Death Stranding.) It has always been my favourite in the series, and on previous consoles, I could run it without even thinking. But this remake added so many interesting elements, not least making Mr. X into a real force of nature, something not even Nemesis managed. It's a fantastic version of how to update a game. I haven't put Link's Awakening on my list, even of to think about games, because it was so faithful, it felt like playing a 1993-ass game again. Resi 2 Remake showed how to take the mechanics of the past and bring them up to date.”

JonB: “The new benchmark for remake games. It's so clear that the developers have looked at the original in great detail, pulled it apart and understood exactly what to keep, what to improve and what to ditch to make a top-tier modern action game that still respects its source.”

Tempy: “A really worth remake of a game I never played, but read about obsessively as a kid. It's gorgeous, Mr. X is a great mechanic, and zombies are actually scary again.”

XOMuggins: “A beautiful melding of the great combat of 4,5 and 6 with the pacing and puzzles of the original games. Gorgeous to look at, really very scary and so damn satisfying. My only gripe would be it's a *little* bit too hard for me, which has stopped me doing a second or third playthrough. I am positive though that it is my game of 2019.”

In 6th place:

Disco Elysium (15)

What you said:

stormyskiesahead “Good enough that I bought a proper copy to play after already playing through once with a somewhat dodgy copy. Just wanna drown in this world.”

In 7th place:

Astral Chain (14)

What we said:

hylian_elf: “Slow start but once this got going and you unlock some abilities and skills, the combat is good Platinum stuff as always. The mix of styles is good and works really well. Not the best example of each genre it puts into the mix, but the overall game is far better than the sum of its parts. [9]”

JonB: “Platinum at its best. Finding a new twist on those peerless combat mechanics and building a comprehensive future cop simulator around them. The genius is in how it ties the chain and the legions into everything you do, from rescuing cats to battling enormous trans-dimensional beasts.”

In 8th place:

The Outer Wilds (13)

What you said:

Moot_Geeza: “Not to be confused with The Outer Worlds, despite the fact that it looks like both sets of developers did precisely that when naming their wares.  A truly remarkable gaming experience that deserves to be pushed into the limelight when the end of year lists appear.  Part of the reason I'm typing this in my pants at home is the fact that I was up playing it at 3am and I've ended up chucking a good old fashioned sickie.  

Taking elements of the narrative FPS types (I'm fed up with referring to them as 'walking sims'), Majora's Mask and No Man's Sky, it's a laid back intergalactic episode of Treasure Hunt where information gradually gleaned through exploration is key to unravelling the mysteries of the solar system.  I've admired NMS from afar, but I'd rather inhale infinite helmetfulls of specefarts than actually participate in its proc gen quintillion worlds shtick.  Despite having no desire to play it, it's one of those games that makes me wish I wasn't me so I'd have a chance of enjoying it, y'know?  Enter The Outer Wilds, which is meticulously designed to within an inch of its life.  It only contains a handful of planets, each of which contains pertinent information that can be discovered in an order decided by the player.  The information gradually makes sense of the interplanetary goings on and will eventually guide you toward the endgame.  Here's the rub: playtime exists in a 22-minute loop, where everything you've interacted with resets once the sun goes supernova.  The ship's log acts as Guy Pearce's chest, thankfully, so every tidbit you discover is locked into your on-board computer.  There's very little hand holding so it was more than a little overwhelming for me at first, given that I usually focus on games that could be labelled 'Action' on the corner of a Master System cart.  The controls keep it grounded to an extent; it's a game I enjoyed playing but the fundamentals aren't much cop - it's a first person narrative type with added manoeuvrability, so the mechanics won't win prizes - but that's not why you'll take this particular trip and it's all fit for purpose.  

I don't want to reveal any more of its workings and intricacies as discovery is key to the experience, but at the same time I feel like a few paragraphs doesn't bang the drum enough.  Top tier indie gaming, credits have rolled and it's still in my head [8]”

Tempy: “A beautiful cosmic puzzle box. A solar system trapped in amber, tasking you as the scientists to unpick its mysteries through hypothesis and trial. As incredibly inventive as it is evocative, and exactly as frustrating as it needs to be to give it enough friction.”

In joint 9th place:

Ape Out (12)

What you said:

stormyskiesahead: “Looks amazing, sounds amazing. Played every single session sporting a huge grin.”

monkey: “Piss.” 

Fire Emblem: Three Houses (12)

What you said:
regmcfly: “As we worked through the year, we became more fixated on ensuring we had a good Summer holiday (we did - which helped) but I became fixated on the release of Fire Emblem. I became a relatively late convert to the series, only starting with Awakening, but I have really loved the emphasis on creating bonds (strands? no) between  characters and also the sheer brutality of the combat model. Whilst I still believe that Awakening (you never forget your first time) was the most pure / efficient of the ones I have played (Awakening / Fates / Echoes / This) the concept of basically being a lecturer in Harry Potter town was one that really engrossed me. I've played through it twice, and need to see the trifecta out, but I was shocked the second time about seeing the impact my taking time in lectures had on the durability of my gang. It's a damn fun game that looks at the same concept from three perspectives - objectively, subjectively and shit-headedly - and it's an absolute blast.”

These are the results for positions 11-44 (with point totals in brackets):

Heave Ho! (10)

Ace Combat 7 (10)

Wreckfest (9)

Baba Is You (9)

Lonely Mountains Downhill (

Slay the Spire (7)

Mario Maker 2 (7)

Zelda: Link's Awakening (7)

Pistol Whip (7)

Metro Exodus (6)

Gears 5 (5)

Noita (5)

DMC 5 (4)

Supermarket Shriek (4)

Hypnospace Outlaw (4)

Borderlands 3 (4)

Crackdown 3 (4)

The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets (4)

Luigi's Mansion 3 (4)

Ring Fit (4)

The Touryst (3)

Outer Worlds (3)

Vader Immortal (3)

Shovel Knight: King of Cards (2)

Tetris 99 (2)

Cadence of Hyrule (2)

Mechstermination Force (2)

Arise: A Simple Story (2)

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order (2)

Katana Zero (2)

Mortal Kombat 11 (2)

Sayonara Wild Hearts (1)

Dragon Quest XI (1)

A Short Hike (1)